Personally I'd rather have Gezlaf or Ryan. Francine and Cleary for either one.

No Perry? Or just because they'd be easier to acquire?

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Kierkegaard

At this point I'd just want to address our Defensive issues right now and hopefully we can land Suter to solve that. It's something like this is why I hate the signings of Tootoo and Samuelsson on Day 1 of Free Agency if it's a money issue we could have had a better chance at getting both of them. Now I'm not so sure with only around $17 Million based on what Cap Geek says we will land even one. If it's just about money than we will lose both of them IMHO but if it's about making a better career choice as to haveing a successfull career and winning a Stanley Cup the Wings should still be one of the top teams in contention for these big-name players.

Can you please explain how having "only" 17m would in any way hurt our ability to get one of the two?

Even in considering pursuing both of them, trades are possible to shed salary. We're certainly not going into next season with 16 forwards, so trading or waiving players is inevitable with or without Parise. And if both Suter and Parise want 9 million per season, we'd be better off without having TWO such ridiculous cap hits anyways.

We lacked depth this past year and now have a little more. I think that peoples' personal dislikes of the new players are causing over-exaggerations about the room/cap space they take up.

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Kierkegaard

Semin in particular seems more Holland's style rather than land the biggest (and most expensive) fish out there. A talented player who's got somewhat of a bad rep and can live up to their potential here. Plus the lure of playing with Datsyuk. Hoping that with Detroit he'd shake the questionable work ethic tag.

Semin in particular seems more Holland's style rather than land the biggest (and most expensive) fish out there. A talented player who's got somewhat of a bad rep and can live up to their potential here. Plus the lure of playing with Datsyuk. Hoping that with Detroit he'd shake the questionable work ethic tag.

When I look at Semin I see Robert Lang all over again, has the talent, but lacks the heart.

When I look at Semin I see Robert Lang all over again, has the talent, but lacks the heart.

I was a huge Lang fan throughout his career and your point is well taken. But here's the main question, if we don't get Parise we need to do something to help our overall goal production to help Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Franzen has proven he's far too streaky to be a significant help or a big game player--at least the last few years. So with that in mind, outside of Semin who sale could we really sign that's going to support our offense?

I was a huge Lang fan throughout his career and your point is well taken. But here's the main question, if we don't get Parise we need to do something to help our overall goal production to help Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Franzen has proven he's far too streaky to be a significant help or a big game player--at least the last few years. So with that in mind, outside of Semin who sale could we really sign that's going to support our offense?

Franzen has had a 50 point season every year since the 08-09 season except for 09-10 where he only played 27 games due to injury. If you look at his stats he's been pretty consistent during the season.

I will agree he has been a non factor the last three years in the playoffs with a total of 22 points combined since the 2010 playoffs compared to 23 points in just the 2009 run. I wonder if maybe it was more that Franzen over achieved during the 08 and 09 runs more so than him being streaky.

As for Datsyuk and Zetterberg needing help I agree 110%, I just don't know who can fill that void of the available players beyond Parise or Nash if neither work out. The only other option would be Doan, I just don't see him leaving Phoenix if they can save that franchise.

I really don't see Parise going to Pittsburgh, honestly. Playing with Crosby would be fun on the ice, but just ask anyone who has left the team, it sucks playing in his shadow, they have no goalie or defense.

But who knows what perspective a player takes when considering teams. They may not analyze it the way we do. He may just see lots of money, a perennial playoff team and think that's good enough.

There's no way in hell the Wild are among his final picks. I'll eat my hat if that's the case. Don't care what the rumors say. I have a bad feeling about him coming to Detroit, which I don't understand. Datsyuk would be just as fun to play with as Crosby, he knows we're going to improve our D corps and our back end is likely stronger than MAF. Plus, we're an original 6 team and our players and management are all class.

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The longer it takes them to decide, the more I believe they want to go to the same team, or just resign.

That would be rare though. They have had over a year now to work out a deal with their respective teams, if they wanted to stay, why didn't they sign sometime over the past year. The only reason would be using other offers to up their value in a contract with their existing team. That makes total sense, but you rarely see that. Most cases, when players go to UFA, they sign elsewhere.

I have no actual evidence to back that up of course, I didn't waste my time digging for it, just a sense I've had over the past number of years.